Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Assessment and Environmental and Social Management Framework for the National Agricultural Public Disclosure Authorized Innovation Project Indian Council for Agricultural Final Report -Volume II: Annexures Research December 2005 www.erm.com Annex A Select Examples of Proposals In NAIP, the emphasis will be on ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT integrated crop management as a AND RISK ASSESSMENT systems approach which would for address use of stress tolerant plant material, reducing biotic stresses, The Biotechnology priority enhancement in quality, use of bio- areas identified in NAIP pesticides and bio-agents for the management of insect pests and plant diseases for enhancing environmental quality and sustainability. 1. Gene discovery, genetic enhancement and allele mining: Given the limited scope for area a) Plants (coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses, mango, cucurbits, medicinal and aromatic plants. expansion, enhanced productivity, b) Farm animals (buffalo, cattle, goats, swine and poultry) profitability and competitiveness and fishes (marine and inland). would be the main source of the 2. Targeted integration of genes and organelle agricultural growth in future and this transformation. should be triggered by advances, 3. Proteomics/ transcriptomics for response to biotic and innovations and applications of abiotic stresses in plants and animals. science in agriculture. 4. QTL identification, cloning and/or use in MAS of plants and animals. 1 5. Bio-prospecting the marine biota for novel genes, bioactive molecules and products. 6. Stem cell research in fishes and animals. • Plant scientists have been exploiting the existing variability for various traits and 7. Molecular diagnostics for plant pathogens. bringing in desirable traits into plants. 8. Molecular diagnostics and vaccines for farm • The vehicle for delivering these innovations animals. and technologies to farmers has always been through seeds and will continue to be 9. Farmer friendly diagnostic tools for testing so. purity of transgenics and agricultural biologicals. What is new? 9The projects on molecular diagnostics for detecting innocuous (especially ¾Modern molecular biology tools and viruses) infections in plants and animals, techniques allow us to identify the GENES and developing vaccines for immunizing controlling various traits. (A genes is farm animals against diseases are aimed at checking diseases at the earliest stage. chemically a piece of nucleic acid) This is also based on time-tested ¾Our ability to transfer the genes at will to methods. Already, a number of molecular any organism. diagnostic kits are commercially available for human diseases and similar efforts in agriculture sector are likely to yield rich dividends. 2 ¾Gene/allele mining will help in identifying new variant forms of known Projects on gene discovery, allele mining genes. and MAS will not only help in identifying new genes but would also augment the genetic ¾Immediate benefits of this exercise are conservation efforts and will indirectly boost expected in breeding for disease conservation programmes. resistance. Such an effort will help in reducing disease incidence, curb use The project would also lead to identification of chemicals for disease control and of useful genes beyond the conventional species boundaries. Thus candidate genes strengthen IPM. from microbes, plants and animals may become available for developing improved varieties of crops and farm animals. Thus, there is absolutely no adverse environmental consequence if the above projects are pursued. Transgenic Plants Current methods of transgenic production do not allow precise integration of transgene into (Some Concerns) the recipient host chromosome 9 Insertion of the transgene might have 9 Transgenes get inserted at random locations on host switched off a useful gene or might switch chromosome. Therefore, performance of different on a harmful gene. transgenics bearing the same transgene, created at different time and place is variable and may be 9 Unintended modification of other species in associated with unintended adverse effects. the neighboring fields due to cross pollination. 9 A lot of efforts, time and resources are invested in testing the performance of independent transgenics and to identify the few with acceptable level of 9 Evolution of super pests that are resistant to transgene expression but without any adverse effect. all types of herbicides or insecticides. 9 Individual transgenic events, carrying the same 9 Disturbing the balance of ecosystems by transgene thus require separate biosafety clearance creating species that normally do not exist. 3 9 The insertion of transgene in the maternally inherited chloroplast genome is likely to prevent gene flow via pollens. Chloroplast transformation has also been reported to result in enhanced expression of transgene. 9 However, while pursuing these projects, recombinant DNA products/ transgenics might be utilized or generated. 9 Easy identification of transgenics in the field, likewise, is most sought for various purposes such as testing the purity of planting material, transgene 9 For all such eventualities the regulatory and flow in nature, food certification against monitoring framework already exists and the contamination (food labeling) etc. workers have to follow the DBT guidelines Hence the research areas being proposed are conceived to address some of the • http://dbtindia.nic.in/thanks/biosafetymain. important and sensitive issues concerning html transgenic crops. Format for Applications Looking Ahead…. … .. 9 For Submitting Information to IBSC/ RCGM for • Some of the useful genes identified in the Import/ Exchange of GMOs and Products proposed projects might be deployed using Thereof for Research Purpose traditional plant breeding approach, others in 9 For Submitting Information to IBSC/ RCGM to the later phase would need transgenic Carry Out Research for Development of r-DNA approach. Products • Some transgenic crops/ animals may raise new 9 For Submitting Information to IBSC/ RCGM to ethical issues besides usual Bio-safety Carry out Research for Development of concerns. Transgenic Plants • Those have to be dealt on case to case basis 9 Application For Environmental Approval Of Clinical, Veterinary Ard Food Products Based (Bhat and Chopra, 2005) On Hazardous Micro- Organisms/GMOs 4 9Exploitation of genes identified may help the plant to extract water and nutrients from soil in a more efficient manner, 9Crop cultivation may extend to new areas with various environmental/ecological consequences. 9 It may also lead to further degradation of soil and ground water. However, it should be recognized that no agricultural activity (including inactivity) is free from environmental consequences. The aim should be minimize adverse consequences. 5 Socio-Economic Issues relating to Gender in India Gender disparities are among the deepest and most pervasive of inequalities. They are revealed brutally in India. In India the mortality rate among children age 1-5 is 50% higher for girls than for boys. These “missing girls” are deprived of life because they are born with 2 X chromosomes. Pointing to structural Dr Premlata Singh inequalities in nutrition, healthcare, status. Income IARI inequality reinforces unequal health outcomes for women (H.D Report 2005) Present Status of Women In India State wise distribution of Male -Female population 1981 - 330.0 (million) and sex ratios (Census, 2001) 2001 - 495.7 (million) State Sex ratio (Female/1000males) Sex Ratio (1981-2001) Kerala 1058 1981 - 934 Pondicherry 1001 1991 - 927 Chhatisgarh 990 2001 – 933 Tamil Nadu 986 (Sex Ratio: Females per 1000 males) Andhra Pradesh 978 Mean Age at Marriage Uttar Pradesh 898 Years Females Males Sikkim 875 1981 18.3 23.3 Punjab 874 1991 19.5 23.9 Haryana 861 1997 19.5 1 Literacy Rates State Wise Literacy Rates In India Census Females Males Persons Male-female gap in literacy State Person Male Female rate India 65.38 75.96 54.28 1981 29.76 56.38 43.57 26.62 Kerala 90.92 94.2 87.86 Mizoram 88.49 90.69 86.13 1991 39.29 64.13 52.21 24.84 Himachal Pradesh 77.13 86.02 68.08 Maharasthra 77.27 86.27 67.08 2001 54.16 75.85 65.38 21.69 Rajasthan 61.03 76.46 44.34 Uttar Pradesh 57.36 70.23 42,98 Jammu & Kashmir 54.46 65.75 41.82 Jharkhand 54.13 67.94 39.38 Bihar 47.53 60.32 33.57 Women Are in Poor Health Women Are Unskilled • Surviving through a normal life cycle is a resource-poor woman’s greatest • Women have unequal access to resources. challenge • Extension services tend to reach only men, which perpetuates • The practice of breast-feeding female children for shorter periods of time the existing division of labour in the agricultural sector, with reflects the strong desire for sons women continuing to perform unskilled tasks • A primary way that parents discriminate against their girl children is through neglect during illness. When sick, little girls are not taken to the • The male dominated extension system tends to overlook doctor as frequently as are their brothers. A study in Punjab shows that women’s role in agriculture and proves ineffective in providing medical expenditures for boys are 2.3 times higher than for girls technical information to women farmers • Studies on attendance at rural primary health centers reveal that more males • A number of factors perpetuate women’s limited job skills: if than females are treated in almost all parts of the country, with differences training